Chena Riverfront subcommittee elects Henzey chair, begins update of 2016 plan

The Chena Riverfront Plan Subcommittee elected Bob Henzey as its chair and launched the first steps to update the borough’s 2016 riverfront plan during a Jan. 6 meeting that ran from 12:03 to 1:19 p.m.

Commissioner Everett nominated Henzey for chair; because a member was joining remotely, the clerk called a roll‑call vote. "Yes," Everett said, followed by a yes from Henzey, after which staff passed the gavel to Henzey and the meeting proceeded. The subcommittee’s initial agenda item was to work with Department of Community Planning staff to begin drafting a replacement for the existing plan.

Kellen Spillman, who led the staff presentation, said the Riverfront Commission requested a subcommittee to start updating the plan and named Spillman and planner Anduin McElroy as points of contact. Spillman said the 2016 update largely built on a 2009 plan and that the prior update took about a year and a half. "The Chena River is the crown jewel of the community," Spillman said, urging the group to start with a concise vision statement and clear goals.

Staff proposed a monthly cadence for the subcommittee (fourth Wednesday at noon was discussed) and outlined immediate tasks: extract Chena‑specific comments from the borough’s comprehensive plan engagement, draft a short vision statement, and organize the plan into subject 'buckets' such as riparian habitat, public access/transportation and recreation.

Spillman told commissioners the borough has received more than 2,000 comments during the comprehensive‑plan update and recommended pulling relevant riverfront comments to avoid duplicating outreach. He also suggested using the department’s booth at the annual Home Show (March) and targeted mailings or short online surveys to solicit public input.

Commissioners debated scope and organization. Some argued the plan’s enabling language emphasizes the riverfront area from Fort Wainwright to the confluence of the Chena and Tanana rivers while others asked whether a broader watershed approach (including upstream areas above the dam) should be considered. Staff read the enabling language aloud and said the charter gives emphasis to the Fort Wainwright–confluence corridor; commissioners agreed to weigh that language when drafting a vision and scope.

Members highlighted several content priorities for the update: adding clear maps of access points and scope, strengthening language on salmon and riparian habitat, and addressing commercial uses of public river resources. Commissioners also discussed reaching out to stakeholders such as paddling groups, river cleanup volunteers, realtors and larger landowners including the university and state agencies when drafting implementation strategies.

On schedule, Spillman estimated the drafting and the separate adoption process—through the Riverfront Commission, planning commission, parks and recreation commission, city council and borough assembly—could put a final adoption target around mid‑2027. The subcommittee agreed staff would try to extract and circulate the Chena‑related comments to members before the next meeting so the group could begin drafting vision language and chapter organization.

Before adjourning at 1:19 p.m., members agreed on homework assignments: commissioners will draft possible vision statements and chapter 'buckets,' staff will pull comp‑plan comments and explore outreach options, and the clerk will coordinate the next meeting date. The subcommittee did not take any regulatory actions at the meeting beyond electing its chair.

The subcommittee’s next meeting is planned for the fourth Wednesday in February; staff said they would try to provide extracted comments and preliminary materials in advance so the group can begin drafting the update rather than only outlining tasks at the next session.